5 syllables: la, bi, a ma, jo, ra. Stress on la.
lay-bee-uh-muh-JAW-ruh
/ˈleɪ.bi.ə məˈdʒɔːɹə/
Labia Majora is pronounced lay-bee-uh-muh-JAW-ruh (/ˈleɪ.bi.ə məˈdʒɔːɹə/). It has five syllables (la-bi-a ma-jo-ra), with the stress on "la". Labia majora are the larger, fleshy folds of the external female genitalia that surround and protect the clitoral hood and vaginal openings. They are typically hair-bearing and can vary in size and color, contributing to genital cushion and sexual signaling. This term is anatomical and used in medical, educational, and anatomical discussions.
nounLabia majora are the larger, fleshy folds of the external female genitalia that surround and protect the clitoral hood and vaginal openings. They are typically hair-bearing and can vary in size and color, contributing to genital cushion and sexual signaling. This term is anatomical and used in medical, educational, and anatomical discussions.
"During the anatomy class, we studied the labia majora and their relation to surrounding structures."
"The labia majora provide a protective layer for the more delicate tissues inside the vestibule."
"In some medical conditions, the appearance of the labia majora may change due to hormonal influences."
Pronounce as LAY-bee-uh ma-JOR-uh. Stress lands on the second syllable of majora: ma-JOR-a. IPA: US: /ləˈbiə məˈdʒɔːrə/, UK: /ləˈbaɪə məˈdʒɔːrə/, AU: /ləˈbɪə məˈdʒɔːrə/. Start with a light ‘la’ then a soft ‘bi’ or ‘bya’ depending on accent. The second word carries stronger emphasis. End with a soft ‘rah’ sound, not drawn out. Audio reference tip: listen to medical diction clips and practice matching the rhythm of stress on majora.
Two frequent errors: (1) misplacing stress, saying lab-IA MA-jo-ra or LA-bia ma-JO-ra. Correct by stressing majora: ma-JOR-a. (2) mispronouncing 'labia' as LAY-bee-uh or LAY-bia; use la- bee- a with a soft ‘a’ followed by a light 'b' and a neutral 'ia' ending. Correct by starting with ‘la’ as in ‘lot’, then ‘bi-a’ with short i, and place secondary stress lightly on the first syllable of labia. Ensure the ‘j’ in majora is like ‘j’ in joke, and the final ‘a’ is a quick schwa or short a.
US: /ləˈbiə məˈdʒɔːrə/ with rhotic /r/ in majora’s ending and clear ‘j’ as /dʒ/. UK: /ləˈbaɪə məˈdʒɔːrə/ may shift 'labia' to /ˈlaɪə/ and soften vowels; non-rhotic link to majora still uses /məˈdʒɔːrə/. AU: /ləˈbɪə məˈdʒɔːrə/ often reduces vowels and speeds up, while keeping stress on majora; final vowel often barely audible. In all, rhoticity is the biggest accent divider; US tends to a more pronounced /r/ and stable /dʒ/; UK may have wider diphthongs and a slightly longer first syllable; AU tends to front-vowel reductions and shorter initial vowel. Reference IPA for specifics.
The difficulty stems from three features: (1) two-word phrase with separate syllable-timed rhythm requiring clear boundary between words; (2) the central /dʒ/ sound in majora can be slurred in rapid speech; (3) subtle vowel shifts in 'labia' across accents; the combination of a front vowel in ‘lab-’ and /ə/ or /ə/ in the second syllable of majora triggers quick transitions. Practice by isolating the two words, then linking them with a light pause, and focus on the /dʒ/ cluster in majora.
A unique aspect is the dominant stress on majora, with the primary stress on the second syllable: la-BI-a ma-JO-ra or la-BI-a ma-JOR-a depending on speaker. The SLA-like pattern is to keep labia as a lighter, quicker first word, then launch into the stronger stress on majora. This two-word rhythm helps keep the meaning clear, especially in clinical discourse where precision in pronunciation ensures the term is recognized quickly. Remember the secondary stress in labia remains weak but present.
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Labia majora comes from Latin. Labia means ‘lips’ or ‘edges,’ used in anatomy to describe mucosal folds. Majora is the feminine plural form of magnus ‘great’ or ‘large,’ indicating the larger set of lips compared with labia minora. The term labia majora appears in Latin anatomical texts dating back to the Renaissance, formalized in English in medical literature in the 17th–19th centuries as dissections and anatomical descriptions expanded. The phrase describes the major, protective lips surrounding the vestibule of the vagina. The etymology underscores the anatomical function: protective, outer lips that encase the more delicate internal structures. Over time, the term has remained standard in medical, educational, and clinical contexts, though colloquial or non-medical usage is less common due to sensitivity around the topic. First known usage in modern English medical dictionaries traces to early 19th-century anatomical treatises, with broader adoption in 20th-century educational resources and textbooks. In contemporary usage, the term conveys precise anatomical meaning and is essential for clear clinical communication, patient education, and academic discourse on female genital anatomy.
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Words that rhyme with "Labia Majora"
-ora sounds
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